Sara Orr Joins Kirkland’s Rapidly Growing ESG & Impact Practice

Kirkland & Ellis LLP is pleased to announce that Sara Orr has joined the Firm as a partner in the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) & Impact Practice Group. Ms. Orr will be based in the Firm’s Chicago office.

“Sara is an experienced corporate and transactional lawyer with skills in helping clients strategically navigate ESG challenges and opportunities. Her background combined with her strong mentorship and practice development capabilities will bring additional strength to our rapidly growing practice,” said Alexandra Farmer, head of Kirkland’s ESG & Impact Practice Group. 

Ms. Orr focuses on sustainable finance, ESG due diligence, corporate sustainability programs and innovative climate solutions. She advises financial institutions, private equity firms and corporate clients on a range of ESG issues in the oil and gas, power and renewable energy, petrochemical, metals and mining, manufacturing, food and beverage, real estate, and other sectors. 

“I’m thrilled to join Kirkland’s growing ESG team,” said Ms. Orr. “I’m impressed by the Firm’s early investment in this area, and I look forward to supporting clients as ESG continues to influence the global marketplace and demand for advice accelerates.”

The Legal 500 US ranks Ms. Orr in Tier 1 in the Environmental: Transaction category. She holds a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School and will receive a master’s degree in psychology from Harvard University Extension School. Ms. Orr joins Kirkland from Latham & Watkins LLP, where she was a leader of the firm’s ESG Task Force.

Kirkland’s ESG & Impact Practice Group provides clients with sophisticated, multidisciplinary advice and state-of-the-art market intelligence as they navigate the opportunities and challenges related to ESG and impact investing across the investment and operational life cycles. Over the last year, as market and regulatory trends have made ESG a central component of its clients’ business strategies, Kirkland has integrated ESG into all aspects of its transactional practice, including investment funds, energy/infrastructure, private equity/M&A, capital markets, and debt finance. Kirkland partners with its clients to develop ESG and impact strategies tailored to their unique circumstances and goals, including integrating ESG into corporate and fund sponsor governance structures, forming impact funds and ESG-related SPACs, leading ESG due diligence, and structuring sustainability bonds and loans.

Kirkland is also committed to being a leader in corporate social responsibility, including by improving communities and the legal profession through philanthropy; embracing and promoting diversity and inclusion and wellbeing within the Firm and the legal profession; reducing the Firm’s environmental impact; and providing legal services without charge to those who cannot afford counsel.